It has been sometime now that I've been collecting menu or italian recipe magazines because I've been trying to straighten out our eating habits. But I rarely have time to cook any of the recipes, 24 hours never seem to be enough to do all the chores a working mother needs to do for her family and beyond. All days tire me, all the new chores as a mother completely changed my lifestyle from a liberal person free to do whatever and whenever. It seems to be a lifestyle-shock for me.When I was single, I used to work and slEEp (eat some, also). Now, every minute is counted (and not even enough, if let's say I feel the need to rest for hours, I simply can't allow that as the rest of the domestic chores are staring at me waiting to be done). GOD, I pray that YOU strenghten me more, physically and spiritually and mentally.I thank my GOD Who is always beside me to uphold me otherwiseI would have collapsed under the pressures.  Thankfully, my very kind sister-inlaw 'borrowed' again my daughter for 3 days so to give me some breather. I also am due to have my italian citizenship, tomorrow I have to retrieve the official document from the immigration office. I don't know if there will be an oathtaking although 1 public official told me and another also told me that swearing will accompany this retrieval. Should I dress like in a ball? Should I be alone? Should I record on film this momentous occasion?

The italian government is not so systematic and that's also true even with beaurocracy. Most important offices do not function regularly, like the immigration office is open only during tuesdays and thursdays from 9 til 12 noon, and also most government offices  serve the public during the morning, or only for a limited time or a limited number of days.Outrageous.

It has been learned that Bill Gates' Microsoft and the Yahoo internet company recently merged together to combat the Google search engine.

The secular world has been recently gripped with the sad news of Michael Jackson's passing away. Apparently he is the historic music icon who earned the highest revenue or income, in the music industry. He has been praised and still is being praised for his extraordinary musical talent, all over the world. Being so, he has many fans around the globe, who all seemed to have stampeded to the music records/CDs shops to get a copy of any of- or, his last album, that in a matter of minutes or hours, the sales of MJ's Cds have skyrocketed to astronomical heights, and the same situation is true for his programmed concert tickets in England. (Consider the headache of concert organizers who must have spent millions of pounds in the hope of tripling their investments-but now they have to or must-refund the costs incurred for this aborted concert event) . He could have used this financial gesture of fans had it been done earlier, before his untimely death. To pay for his domestic bills. Having watched many of his performances on TV, it can be honestly concluded that the world has never known a pure and original and extraordinary talent as MJ. But, there is another side to this, thankfully maybe one can consider a lesson. We may start with a simple and honest curiousity; why or how, inspite of his fame, influence and financial superiority, did he end up isolated from society, from his own family and friends, from himself and worst of all --(we hope not) from his CREATOR, my GOD? And this is the same question we can or must ask ourselves, we don't even have to wait for life's edge to show its ugly face. What really counts? Is it really having much money? How many well-to-do people have committed suicide? Is it fame? Kurt Cobain, of the world famous Nirvana, was at the height of his music career too, when he ended his life. Hollywood pretends that crimes and drug troubles are sweet and normal to a lifestyle of fame and fortune. History rings loud and clear, and repeats what the LORD has said "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' John 14:27. Everything we are looking for can be found in Christ. All the things that matter most in life. Peace above all. I too, was lost before. I found Christ and HE turned my life around. I may not be famous as MJ, I may not have half of the money he used to possess, I may not know all the famous people, or the admiration of the world. Nevertheless I got the best. In this life and the next. Peace and my LORD JESUS to whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.

Today we had the chance to take our daughter to the nearby mall and she had the grand time playing in the big playpen. Seeing her relate to many different children in a nice way-not reprehensible, it gives us satisfaction. There were also a few little bullies with her but they mainly bullied the bigger kids (6, 7 years old) but nevertheless it's always ugly seeing or dealing with bullies. I have seen a very young boy of 6 years (I heard him mention it) mention ugly curses that he may have had very little understanding of, he must have 'learned' it in his own home. And even another girl a bit bigger than him, bully him yet again. And I fear that in the future my daughter will inevitably have to deal with this kind of difficulty, she might have to face 'difficult' people and I do not know how to prepare her or set the strong psychological foundation for her. But I Know my GOD Will help us as HE ALWAYS HAS. So far, her nursery teachers only have usual praises and compliments for her 'excellent' behaviour uncommon for kids her age. She has almost everything that she needs things like nice toys, clothes and many shoes, more importantly love, attention and intelligence and self-esteem or self-confidence. The things I rarely used to have when I was a child. A very happy childhood she's having, I must say. But I realize now GOD has paid me for EVERYthing that I lacked when I was growing up. Through my daughter. It's just like returning to my past as a child and having everything I missed then, Now.I thank My GOD who is All-Wise and Merciful and has not forgotten to 'repair' my unhappy past even if maybe, I didn't consciously ask for it (but GOD knew I needed to be healed emotionally). SO Again and Again, TO My GOD Be The Glory.Amen.

I have just arrived at work, already 15 minutes late because I had to stop at the post office to send my monthly remittance to my family in the Philippines.As soon as I arrived I quickly plunged myself at the swivel and logged in here to internet to check my blog and would like to thank some new 'friends' who cared to 'follow' this humble endeavour. I am currently also facing a window overlooking a professor at work in his class (most probably some sort of engineering review class as our office\language school is adjacent to another degree review center but then I'm not so familiar with the college educational system of Italy) . Fortunately Maria (teaching German\English) one of our language teachers and another French friend Laetithia are available that means some students have yet to arrive and I would still be free to scribble something in a rush. (They must be also murmuring at the other room against this unethical work practice but as it is, oblivion is my first and second name so I couldn't care less, although they're my nice friends) And so As it is, I am dreaming to have more guts one day to be able to face a whole class of (italians, at that) students. I used to have a chronic case of inferiority complex during my adolescent years and I Praise My GOD that HE Brought me through this phase in my life where (now) I also have the opportunity to face a (class) of four bonafide lawyers who work at the office of the University President (ROme 3 University in Via Ostiense), at the Law Faculty, so that gives me a sense of how far GOD has brought me in my personal life. Aside from the fact that we (language teachers) deal with high profile people ( businessmen, bank executives, italian parliament officers, media journalists and on and on..) on a daily basis. I also sent this morning a message to another media littlewig (not big-) cancelling our lesson for tomorrow since I have another appointment with the doctor for the analysis of all the tests I have done (blood, ultrasound and xray) I Praise GOD Again that all the tests resulted good.I'm healthy as a fish (they say here in italy- 'sano come un pesce') I don't know if there's a saying equivalent to that in American or english but the main thing is that GOD has blessed my family's health. HE is so good and merciful. To GOD Be the GLory.
I have to logout and pause at this point as I want to have my usual capuccino and croissant at the bar downstairs.

The other day I had some free time and went out with my friend and her very cute daughter Maris. We ate in a very nice, newly opened Filipino restaurant "Kusina Filipino" right in the center of Rome (Termini station) owned by Ate Mayet who is also very active in other income generating activities like real estate, networking products forever living etc. I first met her when I attended one of her forever living seminars, and I realize now that she is continually being blessed because of her humility and kindness. SHe was offered this business with the venue already fully equipped with all the kitchenwares and utensils, table chairs and cloths and everything, it seemed she only needed to step in and resume the operation. I really hope one day we can also open a similar business in the similar area.

We chose Kare-kare' from the menu and 'lechon kawali' and we were stuffed after the lunch.